But all that variety and all those decisions can be quite
intimidating to the unknowing shopper.

With natural stone, knowledge really pays off. And knowledge
today, before you buy, can be invaluable.

It can help you decide which type of natural stone best fits with
your home and its activities, which size tile complements your
room size and much more.

Thus this section.

It’s all about things you should be aware of, keep in mind, and
just plain know, before your shopping phase leads to purchase
time.

You won’t see your floor at the neighbors.

The beauty of natural stone is that no two pieces are ever the
same.

Each piece has its own natural characteristics such as color,
veining and markings, as well as hardness and porosity. Your
floor is truly unique and completely individual. Exclusive.

A natural stone tile floor begins with giant pieces of stone that
are mined from the earth and transported to factories where they
are cut into thin slabs.

Each slab is different, displaying the affects of the physical
course of its ancient history.

The slabs are then cut into individual tiles. Depending solely on
Mother Nature, and Father Time, each tile cut from the same slab
might look completely different from the next.

Veining and crystallization may be abundant in one, yet
non-existent in another.

Appearance may vary from tile to tile, but that only adds to the
elegance, charm and magic of natural stone.

With natural stone you go with the flow.

Variations in natural stone are to be expected and, frankly,
enjoyed.

So the samples you view at our store can have completely
different veining patterns or color variations compared to the
stone installed in your home.

Also, please remember that it is not possible for you to hand
select your natural stone.

You should be aware that irregular markings, lines, veins and
crystallization are not cracks or imperfections, but rather a
natural part of the stone’s beauty.

Think of them all as forming the “personality” of your floor.

Additionally, if you select a combination of natural stone
products, of the same color and type of stone, for different
areas of your home, they will not match.

And no natural stone tile will have a perfectly smooth surface.
Even after the tiles are polished there may be small chips or
pits that may be apparent in different lighting.

Being a natural product, natural stone tiles will vary more in
thickness, squareness and length compared to man-made ceramic
tile.

As a result, once your natural stone tile is installed, it will
not be a perfectly smooth surface from tile to tile.

Finally, natural stone also varies in hardness, which is the
scratch resistance of a mineral. Talc is the softest mineral and
diamond is the hardest.

This is important when picking a stone. Make sure to consider
what types of activities will be taking place where the stone is
installed in your home.

For example, you would not want to install a soft, porous type of
stone floor in a high traffic area. Our best advice is to consult
with us.

Hard and fast facts about the popular half dozen.

To help you shop smart for natural stone flooring, here’s a
rundown on six popular stones: granite, marble, limestone,
travertine, slate and tumbled stone.

Granite is one of the hardest and densest of all natural stone.

In fact, made up of quartz, feldspar and mica, granite is one
of the hardest stones next to diamond.

It also resists staining and scratching better than any other
natural stone due to its density.

Granite makes a powerful impact in kitchens, entryways and
bathrooms, or as an accent with other natural stone tiles.

Marble
is crystallized limestone that comes in many different color
variations and usually displays a veining pattern that adds to
its uniqueness.

Marble is a timeless addition to any home, bearing the signs
and marks of history from thousands of years.

Marble is more porous than granite, making it more
susceptible to staining and therefore is more suitable for
your foyers, bathrooms, fireplaces, studies or libraries.

A note to you on marble color. It is important to know that
green and black marbles are not recommended for wet areas of
the home, such as a shower.

Green marbles will absorb water and then curl and warp.

Black marbles, when wet, can exhibit “spalling” at veins,
which means small pieces of the stone may break away.

Limestone
has a more subtle look and is often offered in a “honed” or
matte finish.

Limestone is created by the accumulation of organic
materials such as shells and coral.

This stone will require preventative maintenance over time,
as it is very porous.

As it is a softer and more porous stone it may not be
suitable for all areas in the home because it will stain
easily.

You should know that this stone should be sealed to protect
the stone’s natural beauty and performance. (More on
sealing below.)

Travertine
is a unique looking stone due to the “fill process”. In its
original form, travertine has thousands of holes running
through it.

These holes are filled and then the stone is polished.
The stone polishes to a high sheen and the fill areas
remain dull offering you a unique and beautiful floor.

However, like limestone, travertine will require you to
have preventative maintenance performed over time, due to
its porosity.

Slate,
a rustic-looking stone, has become increasing popular
over the years.

It comes in various colors and shades in the warm and
earthy tones.

Slate has some of the most dramatic color variations
from tile to tile.

Colors range from rich reds, oranges and golds, to
mauve, lavender, green, blue, black, rust and brown.
Imagine the possibilities in your home!
Slate tile is extremely durable and can be used in
indoor and outdoor installations.

All slate has a natural clefting along the surface that
gives this stone its unique textural look of layers.

Tumbled Stone has an
antique look. These tiles come in numerous sizes and
are many times used in borders or decorative strips.

Their Old World look is recreated through modern means.
Pieces of marble, travertine and limestone are tumbled
and distressed to evoke a timeworn look of stone from
centuries past. Perhaps this is the look you’re after.

Tumbled Stone is often times created into accent
strips, mosaics and smaller sizes such as 4” x 4” and
6” x 6”.

This type of stone is a design element that is both
rustic and elegant at the same time.

Know this about grout.

Natural stone tile grout lines are typically filled
with un-sanded grout and are usually much thinner than
ceramic tile installations.

Grout can match, contrast or coordinate with your stone
tile.

Remember that grout will outline each tile creating a
visual picture frame.

If you want the grout to be less noticeable, select a
grout that is close in color to the stone.

A contrasting grout color, either darker or lighter,
will make the grout lines more visible and thereby will
create a checkerboard effect.

Grout colors installed in your home can be slightly
different from the sample you viewed in our store.

This is due to differences in temperature and humidity
during installation.

Even when the same grout color is used, it is also
common to see slight differences between the grout used
for floor tile in one room and the grout used in an
adjacent room.

Exact layouts, type of grout and grout joint widths are
determined by the tile setter at the time of
installation and are governed by the actual size and
shape of the tile, and the exact dimensions of the
areas to be covered.

Sealing is recommended.

It is important to note that sealing of natural stone
is highly recommended, and that it be performed by a
seasoned professional.

Sealing your natural stone flooring makes it less
porous, more stain resistant, and protects the stone’s
original beauty.

There are different types of sealer depending on your
type of stone. We recommend consulting with us about
sealing your flooring.

You should also be aware that, once your flooring is
installed, you are responsible for maintaining all
caulked areas to guard against water damage.

Get on top of the bottom line. Know the entire cost of
ownership.

The “cost per square foot” of your natural stone floor
is just one component of the entire project cost. To
ensure there are no surprises, and the natural stone
you select fits within your overall project budget, be
sure to ask us to calculate the total cost of your
floor covering project.

Here’s a list of potential additional expenses you may
incur:

Furniture removal/replacement.

Demolition/disposal of old floor covering.
Depending on the existing floor covering, this can be
an expensive item; also, be sure to include the cost to
dispose of the old floor covering.

Subfloor preparation. Depending on the condition of
the subfloor, it may require additional work.

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